Dateline: Palm Bay, FL – The Palm Bay Charter Review Commission (CRC) meeting on January 15, 2026, was a study in the friction between legal constraints and political sentiment. While the commission successfully navigated several “Old Business” items, including a contentious vote on citizenship requirements for city leadership, the session ended with a unanimous admission from the board that their current pace was insufficient to address the complexities of Article V (Elections) and Article VI (Taxes), forcing a pivot in how the board conducts the remainder of its review.
The “Management Mindset” and the Strong Mayor Warning
Before the commission addressed the formal agenda items, the public comment section introduced a topic that has surfaced in recent City Council discussions: the potential shift toward a “strong mayor” system. Resident Bill Batten, often regarded as a city historian with a deep understanding of Palm Bay’s political evolution, warned the Commission against being “pushed” toward such a policy, urging them to consider the professional risks of moving away from the current council-manager model.
Vice-Chair Thomas Gaume followed up by asking Batten if, in his extensive knowledge of the city’s history, any mayor in Palm Bay had ever possessed the professional qualifications required to act as a city manager or run the daily operations of the city. Batten’s response was a definitive “no,” as he highlighted a critical distinction in administrative philosophy:
Skill Set vs. Mindset: Batten asserted that no past mayor met those qualifications.
Governing vs. Managing: He explained that it requires a “different mindset and a different skill set to manage a city as to govern a city.”
The exchange resonated with the board, with Chair Ken Delgado calling it a “great point.” This sentiment was echoed later in the session when Commissioner Eileen Sepp commented that making the City Manager an elected position would be her “hopes.” City Attorney Patricia Smith clarified that electing the city manager would effectively create a “strong-mayor form of government” where an elected official manages day-to-day business. This shift appeared to be one the majority of the Commission was hesitant to entertain.
The Citizenship Debate: Law vs. Feelings
The meeting opened with a debate over proposed amendments by Commissioner Ruth Kaufhold to Sections 3.07, 3.11, and 4.01. The amendments require that the City Clerk, City Attorney, and City Manager be legal U.S. citizens by birth or naturalization to ensure the “full trust and confidence” of the electorate.
Vice-Chair Gaume challenged the proposal, citing Title 8 U.S.C. § 1324b of the Immigration and Nationality Act. He warned that discriminating against candidates based on citizenship status violates federal law and could expose the city to a Department of Justice investigation. Commissioner Phil Weinberg joined Gaume in opposition, while Commissioner Tyler O’Neal supported the measure, arguing it would “keep the rails on” to ensure future officials are Americans. Despite the legal warnings, the commission voted 6-2 to approve the language. Gaume punctuated the debate by stating, “We need to base our decisions on law, not on feelings,” a sentiment that stood in stark contrast to the board’s decision to proceed with an amendment the City Attorney admitted could not supersede federal hiring mandates.
The Math of the 3% Cap and the Oath of Office
Assistant Finance Director Angelica Collins provided an “educational” presentation on the city’s 3% ad valorem revenue cap. Before the presentation began, Vice-Chair Gaume raised a point of order, arguing that elected officials and senior staff take an oath to protect and defend the City Charter. He asserted that any advocacy against the current charter, specifically the voter-mandated revenue cap, runs contrary to that oath and creates a conflict of interest.
This position is supported by Florida Statute § 106.113, which prohibits local governments from using public funds for communications concerning a referendum. Furthermore, the Florida Code of Ethics forbids public employees from using their official authority to influence the result of an election. By raising the point of order, Gaume effectively reminded the administration that while they may provide facts, using city time and resources to sway the commission against a charter provision is a violation of their professional mandate.
The financial data subsequently revealed that despite the cap, the city’s total property tax revenue grew from $43,016,211 in FY 2022 to $66,851,102 in FY 2026, reflecting a 55.4% increase over a five-year period. This growth is driven largely by the “Year One” exemption for new construction, which alone generated an additional $4,166,400 in property tax revenue in FY 2026. Under the current charter, new buildings are not subject to the 3% limit during their first year on the tax roll. In 2025 alone, new taxable value reached nearly $700 million. Collins also noted that for the first time in a decade, the “Rollback Rate” is higher than the 3% cap rate, largely due to the “sunsetting” of the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA).
Repealing the Two-Hour Limit
As the meeting approached the 8:00 P.M. mark with the critical modernization of election structures (Article V) and the simplification of tax cap exceptions (Article VI) still untouched, the commission’s frustration peaked. Chair Delgado observed, “We’ve accomplished nothing,” noting that the arbitrary two-hour clock was hindering their required duties.
Vice-Chair Gaume expressed he was “rather appalled” that a two-hour limit restricted a task affecting 150,000 residents. This led to a unanimous vote to repeal the rule, signaling that the Commission will no longer be bound by a clock when debating the city’s future. The motion, seconded by Commissioner Jonathon Norris, passed unanimously. This procedural change ensures that future sessions will no longer be cut short, allowing the commission to thoroughly review the remaining sections of the city’s governing document.
Transparency Note: Thomas Gaume, the publisher of The Palm Bayer, serves as the Vice-Chair of the Charter Review Commission and is the sponsor of several proposals mentioned in this article.
